Safety locking device for elevators



Nov. 4 1924.

D. A. SANFORD SAFETY LOCKING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS Original Filed Aug. l 192} 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES D-A. SaI d A TTORNEYS Wm. 4 1924. lfilfllfi D. A. SANFORD SAFETY LOCKING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS Original Filed Aug. 1

1921 2 Shets-Sheet 2 l/VI/E/VTOR A514. Sanford.

A TTOR/VEYS Patented Nov. 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DON ALONZO SANFORD, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA; GRETA L. SAN- FORD ADMINISTRATRIX 01 THE SAID DON ALONZO SANFORD, DECEASED.

SAFETY LOCKING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

Application filed August 1, 1921, Serial No. 489,040. Renewed Aprill 19, 1924.

' To all whom it may concern:

elevators which operates in such a manner,

to insure of the landing door being closed before it is possible to start the elevator, my invention being of extremely simple, durable and inexpensive construction, and easily applied to doors of elevators of standard construction.

I will describe one form of device embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing in perspective one form of locking device embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a view showing in front elevation the locking device shown in Figure l with the cover plate removed.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the device shown in the preceding views with the releasing member and adjacent parts disassembled with respect to the casing of the device.

Figure 4- is a vertical sectional view taken on the line of Figure 2 showing the cover in position and the releasing member or plate in releasing position.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the severalviews.

Referring specifically to the drawings, my invention in its present embodiment comprises a casing K preferably formed of nonmagnetic material and including a cover C which is adapted to close the open side of vthe casing as will be understood. The end walls of the casing K are formed with slots in which pivot pins 16 are adapted to rotate for pivotally supporting a releasing member designated generally at M. The releasing member is mounted for movement within the casing K as illustrated to ad vantage in Figure l, and this member comprises a rectangular plate 17 formed of highly magnetic material and carrying pins 16 at its vertical edges so as to be capable of being locked transversely of the casing. This releasing member M is designed to control the movement in one direction of the locking lever L which, as shown in Figure 3, is fulcrumed intermediate its ends upon a pin 18 fixed within the casing K at a point directly above the slot 19 formed in the lower Wall of the casing and in such manner that the lower end of the lever at all times projects through the slot and exteriorly of the casing. The lever L is formed at its lower end with an operating lip 20, and a locking lip 21, the latter of which is spaced from and preferably disposed at an angle to the operating lip. The opposite or upper end of the lever L is provided with a lug 22 adapted to seat within an opening 23 formed in the plate 17 of the releasing member M and at such point that the lug is disposed within the opening when the lever is in the position shown in Figure 2. This position of the lever L, I term the locking position as in this position it is adapted to effectthe locking of the landing door in closed position.

This position of the lever is defined by a stop pin 2a projecting from the inner side of the rear wall of the casing K in the man ner shown in Figure 3. The lever is also capable of occupying another extreme position wherein it engages a stop pin 25, and the lever is normally urged to this position by means of the coiled contractile spring 26 secured to one end of the lever by a screw 27 and at the opposite end to the casing by a. screw 28. However, this spring may be omitted, as the opening of the door will turn the lever to. its released position adjacent the stop pin. 25, as is obvious. This .position of the lever I. term the releasing position, as in this position the landing door can be movedv to open position or is open.

As shown in Figure 4., the releasing member M is sustained within the casing K be tween the lever; L and the cover plate C, this member being normally urged away from the cover plate by coiled expansible springs 29v (Figs. 2 and 3) mounted in annular bosses 30 formed in the plate 17 and having closed inner ends formed with hearing surfaces for the end of the springs. The

opposite ends of the springs bear against the nner side of the cover plate so that by this arrangement the plate 17 is normally urged 'i'earwardly toward the lever I1. In this urged position of the releasing member M, the locking lug 22 is adapted to seat within the opening 23 when the lever L is in the locking position shown in Figure 2 so that normally the locking device operates to effect the locking of the landing door.

As in the safety locking apparatus embodied in my co.pending application, the present locking device is provided with a circuit controller operated by the releasing member and adapted to control the supply of current to elevator operating motor". This circuit controller in the present instance comprises a pair of stationary contacts 31 arranged between plates of insulating ma terial 32 with thelatter formed with circular openings in the manner clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4 to expose the contacts and to permit of their being bridged by a movable contact 33. The contact 33 is in the form of a ring loosely fitted on a stuc 3 2 secured to a plate of insulating material 35 carried by the plate 17. The contact 33 is locked against displacement in the stud 3 by a cotter pin 36, with a coiled expansible spring 37 embracing the stud and interposed be tween the plate 35 and the contact 33 so as to normally bias the contact into engagementwith the cotter pin. This arrangement permits ot' a yielding movement 0.1. the contact 33 when the plate 17 is moved so that the stud passes into the openings of the plates with the contact engaging stationary contacts 31-. The arrangement of the circuit controller is such that with the releasing member M in this normal position the con tact 33 bridges the contacts 31 sothat the circuit to the controller is closed. The con tacts 31 constitute the terminals of the power circuit for supplying power to the motors for operating the elevator, although in the present instance this showing has been omitted as the circuit forms no part of the present invention.

In the operation of the locking device the locking lever L is adapted to be sustained on the elevator shaft or hatchway directly above the landing or hatchway door Ill), and the latter is adapted to carry a locking finger designated at F, in the path of move ment of which is interposed the lower end of the lever. The arrangement of the locking device with respect to the door is such that when the door is moved from closed to open position the locking finger F travels in the direction of the arrow in. Figure 2 engaging the locking lip 21 and thus swinging the lever L from the locking position shown in Figure 2 to the releasingposition shown in Figure 3. As the releasing member normally occupies a locking position. with respect to the lever L, it will be clear that the lever can only be moved to releasing position when the releasing member occupies a releasing position. To move the releasing member to releasing position, an electroinagnet E is provided which is adapted to be carried by the elevator and so positioned thereon that when the elevator is at or adjacent to a floor landing and the electromagnet energized its magnetic field will traverse the releasing member, the arrangement of the locking device and electro-magnet being better illustrated in my co-pending application hereinbefore referred to. To reduce the current necessary to energize the magnet E sufiiciently to actuate the releasing member, the cover plate C is formed with slots 38 as clearly shown in Figure 1, such slots being arranged so that they will expose the releasing member at, points defining the path of movement of the poles of the magnet'Fl across the face of the casing thereby reducin the reluctance and thus permitting of the morev ready passage of the magnetic lines of force from the magnet to the releasing member.

In Figures 1 and 2' I have shown projecting pieces or bars 39 of highly magnetic material integral with or attached to the surface of the plate 17, also of magnetic material, part of each of these projecting'pieces being adapted to extend through the slot 33 in the casing cover C when the releasing member is in an unlocking position and attracted by the electro-magnet.

In operation, the locking finger occupies the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 when the elevator door is closed, and the locking lever L is in looking position with the lug 22 within the opening23. As previously described the circuit controller is closed when the releasing member is-in looking position so that current can be supplied to the motors for operating the elevator. When the elevator reaches a landing and it is desired to open the landing door, the electro-inagnet E being energized forces the releasing member forwardly to the position shown in Figure t so that the lug 22 is withdrawn from the opening 23. As. soon as this occurs the doormay be opened, and a slight movement of the door displaces the locking lever L and prevents the lug 22 from again entering the opening 23 until the door is entirely closed again. Simultaneously with this operation the circuit controller is also opened thus preventing movement of the elevator while the door is open, When returning the door to closed position, the locking finger F'engages the operating lip 20 and thus moves the lockinglever baclr to locking position, the movement of. the. elements being such that the door must be completely closed before .the lug .22 is opposite the opening 23. The eleetrosmagnet IE1 is adapted to be deenergized as soon as the circuit controller is open so that when the locking lever returns to locking position the releasing member is free to return to locking position under the action of the springs '29, it being understood that the lug 22 is now opposite the opening 23. When the releasing member is returned to locking position the circuit controller is closed thus permitting the operation of the elevator. From this operation it will be seen that the operation of the elevator can be effected only after the door has been completely closed as it is necessary that the locking lever be completely returned to its locking position before the releasing member can move to locking position.

Should it be necessary to open the door when the elevator is not adjacent the land ing so that the electro-magnet can not operate the releasing member, the latter can be manually moved to releasing position through the medium of a crank or handle H secured to the projecting end of one of the pins 16.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of safety locking device embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

l/Vhat I claim is:

1. A locking device for elevator hatehway doors comprising a locking member movable to occupy locking and releasing positions, an operating member carried by a hatchway door and movable to engage said locking member for moving the latter to either of its positions, a releasing member movable to occupy a locking position in which said looking member is secured in looking position, and also movable to a releasing position in which said locking member is free to be moved by the operating member on the door, means for normally urging the releasing member to a locking position, and a main electrical circuit controller operable by said releasing member in a manner to efiiect closing or opening thereof according as the releasin member occupies locking and releasing positions.

The subject-matter of claim 1 wherein the releasing member is of magnetic material, with the addition of an electromagnet adapted to be carried by an elevator car for moving said releasing member from a locking to a releasing position and opening the main circuit.

The subject-matter of claim 1 wherein the locking member and the releasing member are movable and provided with interlocking means, whereby in one of their relative positions the, locking member is locked and the main circuit closed and in another of their relative positions the releasing member is in a releasing position and the main circuit opened.

4. The subject-matter of claim 1 wherein the locking member and releasing member are provided with a lug on one of said members and an opening or seat formed in connection with the other member, so that in one of their relative positions they will. interlock and in another relative position the releasing member will be locked in a releasing position and the main circuit opened.

5. A locking device for elevator doors comprising a casing containing a locking member and a releasing member of magnetic material, an electro-magnet outside the casing adapted to be carried by an elevator car and, when moved to a position adjacent the said releasing member and energized, move the said releasing member from a looking to a released position, a door with an operating member, and mechanical means co-operating with said releasing member and locking member to lock said releasing member in a released position when the door is open.

6. The subject-matter of claim 5 wherein the said mechanical means consists of a lug carried by the locking member, said lug in one position of the locking member being within a hole in the releasing member and in another position engaging the releasing member and looking it in its releasing position.

7. A locking device for elevator hatchway doors, comprising in combination a locking lever movable to occupy locking and releasing positions, a hatchway door, a locking finger carried by the door and movable to engage said lever for moving the latter to either of its positions, a releasing member to occupy a locking position in which said locking lever is secured in locking position and a releasing position in which said lever is free to be moved by the locking finger, means for urging the releasing member to locking position, and a. circuit controller operable by said releasing member in a manner to effect closing or opening thereof according as the releasing member occupies locking and releasing positions, said releasing member co-operati1ig with the locking lever to permit the return of the releasing member only when the loo:- ing lever is in complete locking position.

8. A locking device for elevator hatchway doors, comprising in combination a casing including a cover provided with a slot, a locking lever fulcrumerl in the casing, said lever being capable of occupying locking and releasing positions, a lug carried by the lever, and a releasing member movable within the casing to occupy locking and releasing positions; an opening being iormed in the member and arranged to receive lug when the lever andv member are in looking positions, a d aid re easing membe being disposed so that said slot in the cover p s s a po ion f he member hen n mally urged to locking position,

9. A locking device for elevator hatchway doors, comprising in combination a casing including a slotted cover, a locking lever fulcrumed within the casing to occupy looking and, releasing p si i n a re as ng member of magnetic material capable of occupying locking and releasing positions and arrangedfto have portions thereof exposed by the said slots, and springs arranged between said cover and releasing member to normally urge the member to locking position.

10. The subject-matter of claim 9 wherein said releasing member is provided with pieces or bars 39 of highly magnetic ma terial.

11. The subjec -matter of aim 9 wh rein said cover is of nonrmagnetic material.

12. The subject-matter of claim 9iwherein the casing is provided with stops to limit the movements of the locking lever.

13. The subject-matter of claim 9 wherein said releasing member is provided With a handle located outside the casing.

14. The subject-matter of claim 9 wherein the locking leverand the releasing me1-nher are pivoted to the casingdijiierer t planes.

15. A locking device for elevator hatchway doors, comprising a casing including a cover formed of non-magnetic material, a

locking lever fulcrumed Within the casing to occupy locking and releasing positions, a lug carried by the lever, a releasing member capable of occupying locking and releasing positions, bushings, fiormed onv the releasing member, springs mounted within the bushing and arranged between said cover and member to normally urge the member to locking position, an opening formed in the member and arranged to receive said lug when the releasing member and the lever are in locking positions, and a circuit controller operable by the. releasing member to effect closing or opening thereof according as the member occupies looking or releasing position.

16. A locking device for. elevator hatch, way doors, comprising in combination acase ing including a cover formed of non-magnetic material, a locking lever tulcrumed within the casing to. occupy lookmg and releasing positions, a lug carried by the lever, a releasingmember capable of ofic tpy ng lockingand releasing positions, springs ar ranged between said cover and member to normally urge the member to locking position, an opening formed in the member and arranged to, receive said lug when thereleas'ing member and-the lever, are infl k ng positions, and a circuit controller operable y the e ee rg'm mb r o: at est l ing r op ning rent ac o d ng a the membe ccupie lock ng r r e ing Po ion, a rcui con ller mrri i-nga u ca ried y he member, a mo able o t m unt o the tud, a p ng e igeg able w th t contact for yieldingly holding the same in a definite position on the stud, and spaced contacts mounted on and insulated from the and adapted to be bridged by the movable contact.

17. A locking device for elevator hatchay doors, comprising a locking lever movable to occupy locking and releasing posidons, a rele s ng memb m a e o 0 cupy locking and releasing positions in respect to the lever when said lever occupies the atoresaidv respective po it on and a rcuit controlling means associated with the releasing memb r a apted t be clos d hen the locking positions are assumed and opened when the releasing positions are assumed.

18. An elevator lock comprising a locking a lever, means on which it, is pivoted to rock in one plane, means on an elevator hatch- Way door to move said lever into a locking position, a releasing member pivoted to rock in another plane and occupy locking and releasing positions in respect to said locking lever and thus correspond to the respective positions of said lever, and circuit controlling means associated with said releasing member adapted to be closed when both the lever and releasing member occupy the locking positions. t

19. An elevator loclrcomprising a locking lever, means adapted to be carried by an elevator door tomove the lever to a, locking po. sition, a releasing member co-operating with the lever, circuit controlling means associ ated with the releasing member, means carried by an'elevator and adapted to withdraw the releasing member from a locking engagement with said lever and at the same time. break said circuit controlling means, and means associated with the releasing member o m ve it b i t a oc ing P tion on said lever when the lever is in a corre sponding position and at the sal ne time rcestablish the circuit of said controller.

2 en el va r 09k omprising pi ctal y mounte rk ne le r th a ug, and releasingmember adapted to assume locking e ea ng pos n i re pec to said levee an pen ng t Re i e t e lug when the lever and member are in looking positions, said lug engaging a solid -portier of he mem r when the le er is in t eleas ng no? ion, th r by pr entin said neinh rttr m m vi g to a l k g posi ion- 2= n eleva or 001: compri ng a Pi eta y v d a h ng l ver with 1 1 s, a

releasing numbe slanted *tv l -9k."-

ing and releasing positions in respect to said lever, having an opening to receive the lug when the lever and member are in the looking positions, said lug engaging a solid portion of the member when the lever is in the releasing position, thereby preventing said member from moving to a locking position, and circuit closing means Which is controlled by the positions of said releasing member.

22. An elevator look having a casing, a releasing member pivotally mounted in the casing, circuit controlling means associated With the releasing member and towards Which said member is adapted to swing resilient means situated between parts of the casing and said member to produce said swinging, and means to retain said resilient means in place.

DON ALONZO SANFORD. 

